Maximizing new federal investments in broadband for rural America

Congress appropriated $65 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to close the digital divide and ensure universal access to reliable, high-speed, and affordable broadband across the US. The cornerstone—$42.45 billion—rests with the implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which entrusts execution and deployment of the resources to state governments. To maximize the opportunity that BEAD presents and to close the digital divide once and for all, we recommend the following 11 points:

1. Allow rolling challenges to FCC maps and publish transparent adjudication in a timely manner;
2. Mandate annual reporting, preferably through an easily accessible and navigable website and map, by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) (with the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB)) that measures progress in reaching people and communities that remain left behind;
3. Create a community advisory committee for NTIA composed of representatives from across the federal government and community stakeholders from across the country;
4. Encourage states to create dedicated funding, staffing, or public-service opportunities to support community engagement for unserved and underserved communities;
5. Develop clear guidance for meaningful community engagement;
6. Ensure matching requirements are not a barrier for highly vulnerable unserved or underserved communities;
7. Increase and emphasize support for immediately available solutions that leverage community institutions; 
8. Create statewide multistakeholder councils to guide implementation;
9. Set a high standard for the preference for fiber-optic cable;
10. Address permitting barriers; and
11. Integrate workforce development strategies into broadband implementation projects.